اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا، وَرِزْقًا طَيِّبًا، وَعَمَلاً مُتَقَبَّلاً.
O Allah, I ask You for beneficial knowledge, goodly provision, and acceptable deeds.
Allahumma inni as'aluka 'ilman naafi'an, wa rizqan tayyiban, wa 'amalan mutaqabbalan.
When to Read
This dua is particularly potent when recited during the sacred hours of Tahajjud (the night prayer). When you're facing a significant career transition, perhaps feeling uncertain about your next steps, a new path, or a change in your professional life, dedicating a portion of your Tahajjud to making this supplication can bring immense clarity and peace. The stillness of the night, combined with the act of seeking Allah's help directly, creates a powerful atmosphere for receiving divine guidance.
How to Read
While this dua is concise and beautiful on its own, its impact is amplified by the sincerity of your heart and your intention. During Tahajjud, after you've performed your prayers, find a moment of quiet reflection. Raise your hands, face the Qiblah if possible, and recite this dua with a present heart. Imagine Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) listening intently. After reciting it, you can follow up with your personal supplications (duas) for guidance in your specific career situation, asking for clarity on which path to take, wisdom in decision-making, and ease in the transition. The key is earnestness and relying on Allah's perfect wisdom.
Virtues & Benefits
This powerful dua, taught by our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, encompasses three essential elements for success in this life and the next, especially during pivotal moments like a career change. 1. **Beneficial Knowledge ('Ilman Naafi'an):** In a career transition, this means asking Allah to grant you knowledge that helps you discern the right path, understand new skills, or make informed decisions. Knowledge that leads to good and benefit, not just information. 2. **Goodly Provision (Rizqan Tayyiban):** This is a request for provision that is pure, lawful, and sufficient. When changing careers, you might worry about your livelihood. This part of the dua assures you that if your intention is sincere and your efforts are lawful, Allah will provide in a good and blessed way. 3. **Acceptable Deeds ('Amalan Mutaqabbalan):** This refers to actions that Allah accepts. In the context of a career change, it means ensuring your work aligns with Islamic principles and that your efforts are rewarded by Allah, both in this world and the Hereafter. It's about seeking work that not only sustains you but also pleases your Creator. Reciting this during Tahajjud amplifies its potential, as the Prophet ﷺ said: "Our Lord descends to the nearest heaven every night when the last third of the night remains, saying: 'Who invokes Me, so that I may answer him? Who asks Me to grant him whatever he asks for, so that I may grant him his request? Who seeks My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him?'" (Sahih al-Bukhari 1145, Sahih Muslim 758).
Source & Authentication
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to say when he woke up at night (to pray): اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ جِبْرَائِيلَ وَمِيكَائِيلَ وَإِسْرَافِيلَ، فَاطِرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ، عَالِمَ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ، أَنْتَ تَحْكُمُ بَيْنَ عِبَادِكَ فِيمَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ، اهْدِنِي لِمَا اخْتُلِفَ فِيهِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ بِإِذْنِكَ، إِنَّكَ تَهْدِي مَنْ تَشَاءُ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ "O Allah, Lord of Gabriel, Michael, Israfil, Creator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the seen and the unseen, You are the arbitrator between Your servants in that wherein they differ. Guide me to the truth concerning that wherein we differ by Your leave, for verily You guide whomever You will to a straight path." (This fuller hadith is for context about Tahajjud supplications, the core dua used in the entry is a separate, widely known supplication for overall well-being and acceptance of deeds, highly relevant to seeking success in endeavors like career transitions.)